New Masonite Doors Aim to Delay Active Shooters

Tampa, FL—Door manufacturer Masonite International (NYSE: DOOR) unveiled the Defendr™ Door System, designed to impede attacks inside schools and provide time for security personnel to respond.

“We believe it is important to create solutions that are intended to help provide students, educators, healthcare workers and other employees with safe spaces to learn and work,” says Alex Legall, senior VP and Architectural Business Leader at Masonite. “Defendr adds a critical line of defense. . . .It can help deter threats and tragic events like active shooters.”

Also intended for other buildings, the Defendr door System is designed to slow attempts to enter a locked interior room by use of force. The stile and rail design door is constructed with an extra heavy-duty particleboard or structural composite lumber core, available in several fire ratings, and Armoured One tactical security glass.

“We chose to partner with Masonite because they understand the aesthetic value of designing for calm in today’s chaotic environments,” says Thomas Czyz, CEO of Armoured One.

The door is offered in natural wood veneers and laminates, including trend-forward stained wood veneers, a selection of paint colors, and laminate surfaces. Flush wood veneer is available in a variety of grades, species, cuts, and stains, with matching vertical edges available in veneer, hardwood, laminate, or impact edges. The high-end design options lets architects and designers integrate Defendr into building design while improving safety and security.

The Defendr Door System offers door construction options that qualify under Masonite’s Environmental Product Declaration: FSC Certification, NAUF, recyclable or regional materials options. The composite lumber and particleboard versions are available in several fire ratings.

“We recognize the need for an attack-resistant door system that is practical, aesthetically pleasing and affordable,” Legall said. “The Masonite Defendr Door System is designed to create safer spaces, which shouldn’t be a luxury.”

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